Ex-New Milford cop who faced murder charge found dead

Supporters of the family of Franklyn Reid carry a sign down the street in Litchfield, Conn., Tuesday, May 20, 2003, outside Superior Court. Former New Milford Police Officer Scott Smith was due in court to enter a plea in connection with the 1998 shooting death of Reid, a black suspect who was wanted by police for failing to appear in court and for probation violations. Smith rejected a plea deal that would have spared him prison in the fatal shooting of Reid, the victim's family and their lawyer said.(AP Photo/Bob Child)

New Milford, Conn., police officer Scott Smith leaves Superior Court in Litchfield, Conn., Wednesday, March 17, 1999, after a judge ruled that prosecutors may proceed with a murder charge against him. Smith is charged with murder in connection with the Dec. 29, 1998 shooting death of Franklyn Reid in New Milford. (AP Photo/Bob Child)

DANBURY >> Police are investigating the death of Scott Byron Smith, a former New Milford police officer who made national headlines in January 1999 when he was charged with murder after shooting and killing a suspect following a police chase a month earlier.

Smith, 41, of 1 Acre Drive, Danbury, was found dead in his home Tuesday morning. Police were notified by friends of Smith's, stating that they could not make contact with him, according to Lt. Thomas Michael of the Danbury Police Department .

Police responded around 9:26 a.m., he said. Members of the Danbury Fire Department forced entry into Smith's residence, according to police. Paramedics found Smith in his bed and pronounced him dead, according to the details Michael provided.

He said an autopsy would be performed by the state Chief Medical Examiner's office to determine the cause of death and that detectives are investigating the circumstances of Smith's death.

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On Dec. 29, 1998, Smith caught Franklyn Reid, 27, of New Milford after a foot chase along Route 202 in New Milford and shot him in the back while attempting to place him into custody. The chase had ensued because police had a warrant for Reid's arrest on a violation of probation charge.

Smith claimed he shot Reid in self-defense, stating he did not respond when ordered to show his hands. Reid had a criminal record, including a stabbing conviction, and the officer stated he feared he had a weapon. Reid was not armed, but a folding knife was found in the front pocket of his jacket, a distance away from where he fell.

Witnesses stated they saw the suspect standing, facing the officer with his arms raised, sitting, and then lying on his stomach with the officer holding his hands behind him and the officer's foot on his back.

In January 1999, the officer was charged with murder.

A lot of attention was drawn to the case because Smith was the first officer to be charged with murder in the state; there were claims of racial conflict, which later proved unsubstantiated, because he was white and the suspect was black; and concerns arose as to what was considered reasonable use of force in apprehending a suspect.

In March 2000, Smith was convicted of manslaughter, but not murder, in the Litchfield Superior Court trial. He faced a sentence from five to 40 years and received a six-year term of imprisonment. A retrial was scheduled after his conviction was successfully appealed. The Appellate Court found that during Smith's trial the judge had not allowed testimony from expert witnesses about officer training and the use of deadly force and had failed in instructing the jury properly.

Before being retried, the officer reportedly agreed to a plea of criminally negligent homicide and avoided imprisonment. No longer allowed to serve in law enforcement, he later sought employment as a firefighter but was not hired locally.

The town and Smith were sued by Reid's family, who could not be reached for comment before press deadline.

New Milford Mayor Patricia Murphy said the out-of-court settlement was handled by the town's insurers.

"We extend our condolences to friends and family of Scott Smith," said Lt. Lawrence Ash Tuesday, speaking on behalf of the New Milford Police Department.